Joy is a hot commodity in heaven. So much so, that it says in Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus ‭‭purchased us with His own blood. He did it for joy! I believe that we were the joy set before Him. Joy was the prize for His suffering. “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭

It’s not very often that I can explain why I’m so full of joy. My answer basically boils down to, “IT’S JESUS!!!” (Said with much excitement) I honestly do not know how to contain (much less explain) the joy that I feel in my heart. It’s something you have to experience. However, I will do my very best to spell it out. Excuse me if it sounds like gibberish.

I used to be an orphan, now I’m a son.

When I gave my life to Jesus two years ago, I was so convicted of my luke-warm life. I was addicted to porn (which so many men, and some women, are.) and served only myself. If I did anything for someone, I benefited somewhere. Nothing was purely for another person. I was always trying to get, trying to get noticed, trying to be someone. But the love of God got ahold of me, and he flipped everything upside down. I surrendered to Jesus. I gave Him my whole life, and I held nothing back. I stopped playing video games (they quickly got boring) and pornography left immediately. Swearing exited my vocabulary. What I learned in a short time was, I am royalty now. I am no longer a slave to sin. I became a son of the living God. He rescued me, not just from hell, but He rescued me from the torment of living for myself.

I felt the presence of God for the first time on that night two years ago in April. God revealed himself. I began to hear the still small voice speaking to me in my heart. He said the most simple but profound things, that rocked me forever. “I love you son.” He said “you’re a new person.” He told me. I would weep and weep and laugh. (Which I still do. It’s getting worse!) I wouldn’t even think to ask Him about my past, I knew, who I was died. I honestly can not even relate to who I used to be. I remember in the first few weeks experiencing something in my fellowship with God, He touched me in such a tangible way. I felt so giddy and silly and I was laughing like crazy, and stumbling around my house. (It was like I was drunk!) I knew it was God.

Even though it was real, I knew that God didn’t want me to live by my feelings. I got into the word, and it came alive. I would sit on the couch and read my bible with the biggest smile. “It says that!?” I’d say. Then I would show people and point at things “do you see this? How come no one told me that it says that!?”

The most amazing thing that He showed me was that my identity was no longer in sin. I had been taught for years that I was a sinner. But I found in the Bible that I am actually a saint. Now when God calls you a saint, and you know that you did nothing to earn it, (in fact all you did was act like a sinner) it humbles you and makes you so happy. I still to this day am overjoyed over this fact. I am free! And whom the son sets free, he is free indeed. One way to make sure you get rid of any sense of joy is to be sin conscious. We should be son conscious. (that means you too ladies.) We actually belong to the king! The master of the universe. The one who made it all. He said; “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:32‬

We have been freely saved, freely loved and freely given the kingdom of God. The only thing it costs is our life. It doesn’t belong to us anyway. Jesus doesn’t want much, He just wants everything.

The gospel is good news. I’d hate to think I’m a sinner headed to heaven. I’m a son with heaven living on the inside of me. And I walk by the Spirit of God. “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”                                                                             2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭

Where is the Spirit of the Lord? He lives in us. So since He lives in me, there is freedom inside of me. Now it’s not just me who is free. The kingdom extends its borders around me. How can we live so close to people who are in bondage and do nothing about it when we live in so much freedom? The Father wants to reach out and touch them with his mighty hand. He is waiting for his children to act on his behalf . “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1‬

This is the most exciting life ever. What’s more exciting than God radically transforming your life? Watching Him do it to someone else. Oh Jesus you are incredible. You absolutely amaze me. My whole life is yours Lord. Thank you so much. Do whatever you want with me. I’m just happy to be yours.